OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — For the first time since 2012, and just the fourth time ever in program history, the No. 8 LSU softball team returns to softball’s biggest stage on Thursday, opening play at the 2015 Women’s College World Series at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium – OGE Energy Field against the Auburn Tigers at 1:30 p.m. in Oklahoma City.

One of the last eight teams left standing after two rounds of NCAA Tournament play, LSU will be vying for the program’s first national championship this week, as the double-elimination event will pare the eight down to just two, with a three-game championship series crowning a champion beginning next Monday. Every game of the WCWS will be aired on ESPN or ESPN2 and online on WatchESPN.

The radio home of LSU softball will carry every game for the team this week on ESPN 104.5/104.9 locally in Baton Rouge with Patrick Wright and Matt Dunaway. The live audio feed of the game can also be found in the Geaux Zone on LSUsports.net, as well as links to live stats and video of the tournament games.

Back in the fall, before the well before the regular season started, the Tigers participated in the “OKC Challenge”, a semester-long series of team-building exercises and challenges to get the team prepared for the rigors of making it to their destination in Oklahoma City. Fast-forward to May, and the Tigers, who arrived in OKC on Tuesday afternoon, are just days away from nearly completing the challenge, with one goal remaining to complete its mission.